NeilHB

Don’t fall off your chairs in shock ladies and gents - there’s another update! It seems my modelling get up and go has definitely returned - I’ve embarked on another scratchbuilt wagon project... Not too bad for a couple of hours work this evening to sort out the chassis and the basic bodywork. Stand by for more progress.

I like quick projects, and even more so if they are relatively cheap. Last nights/tonights project has seen the build of an open wagon (I believe its from an HMRS casting) - suitably modified to remove the curved ends. Axleboxes, wheels etc. from the spares box, and so was the body as I can’t actually remember when I bought it: It’ll probably become one of the Broughton & Dunnerdale Railways own wagons. In anticipation of market day in Broughton, the heifers have been subjected to a spot of filler! And to transport them my Slaters Midland Railway large cattle van is getting a much needed make over, and will probably emerge in LMS livery: Needs a change of couplings and vacuum pipes fitting, plus a general repaint and transfers adding when I can find them. Pregrouping will be served by a Furness example, I have the drawings just need to summon the courage!

Thanks Sam, much appreciated. Shall sort out obtaining a copy.

Martin, This is the link to the seller - he doesn't have stuff in all the time (just a couple of G1 kits at the moment - very nice!), and they do tend to go quite quickly when he does list stuff. https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/aecfred422?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 He also has a website where you can view some of the items that he casts: https://www.422modelmaking.co.uk/ I have a few kits squirrelled away in readiness for this layout. Really must get one of the 6-wheel brake coaches the next time he has some in stock. Pretty much all of his kits are of smaller items of rolling stock that are ideally suited to light railways etc.

Sam, Do you have details of the wagon book that has the drawings in of the NBR brake van please? Thanks, Neil

Bit of a belated update to Duddon Bridge that covers the last couple of weekends work. The first building mock ups have been produced for the layout, to gauge size etc. First up we have the corn mill: It'll need to come down in height a bit, as it's currently too tall. Next up is the rag/waste shed - this was actually relatively easy to mock up considering it's delightful shape! This one needs a bit extra height, and the left hand doorway will come down a fair amount, it doesn't need to be this tall to accommodate the 0-9. The 0-9 will enter the building, and then out through the backscene to a short hidden siding behind - due to its location this means we can actually get some 0-9 rolling stock in the building - at the moment all that will probably fit is about half a wagon, and they really aren't that big... This weekend saw the first pair of trestles assembled, based on the tried and trusted method just for our group's layout, Henmore Dale - these are just a bit wider as the layout is approx. 2'8" wide, compared to Henmore's 2' width. This then meant that the scenic extension boards (seen here altogether - two for the FY's and three for the scenic portion) could be attached to the layout for a test These are laser cut from Grainge and Hodder (same as the main boards) - thanks to Allen for taking our sketch and turning it into reality! Obviously various bits need to be cut out of the sides of the scenic board to accommodate the mill race, but the layout is starting to come together nicely now, and feels more like a railway in a scene, rather than just some track on a board. Two of the three scenic boards are like this one, with the base layer approx 2" lower than the top of the sides, which means that we can then have the scenery falling away from the railway down to the river. The other three boards (two fiddle yard and one scenic) all have flat tops - the remaining scenic board will accommodate part of the station, plus the road over the level crossing and the barn which will form the scenic break at that end of the layout. Lastly a couple more items of rolling stock have arrived for the layout. One of the delightful Minerva gunpowder vans has arrived. I have some transfers on order from POWSides which will enable this to become a van belonging to the Elterwater Gunpowder company - providing gunpowder to the slate quarries at Walna Scar. There is also a nice resin kit (courtesy of eBay) for a 4-compartment 1st/3rd composite, which will be mounted on a scratchbuilt 6-wheel underframe when I've paid a visit to the Connoisseur Models stand at Telford next month. I have another similar kit which will provide a 6-wheel All Third thanks to the different window spacings. I have assumed that these are ex Maryport & Carlisle Railway cast-offs, so will be painted in their pleasing Green and Cream livery.

That really does look great Ruston - a very nice looking model! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one modelled accurately before - have seen one unmodified mounted on an 0-6-0 chassis which with the original proportions of the body didn’t look too odd.

That looks superb Pete - really coming along nicely now. As Mikel says, no one would know that it’s built around Ikea shelves!

Ruston, I have copies of the drawing which I can send over to you. They are of Furness No.20 and are from the Furness Railway Trusts book about her restoration. Will dig them out tomorrow and email them over. Not sure if Sharp Stewart built these for any other railways, only knowing of them in connection with the Furness Railway.

Gareth, I have a couple of the 7mmNGA kits that I no longer have need for - if you would like to purchase them from me please send me a PM. I'm trying to have a bit of a clear out of things that I'm never going to get round to building. I think (will need to check later to confirm though) that there are 2 x 2Ton kits, and 1 x 3Ton kits. There might also be one of Port Wynnstay's FR Gunpowder wagons kits as well if you are interested. Best Wishes, Neil

Cracking stuff (as usual) Andy - I really do like it!

I think they look very nice Annie.

That really does look rather good Chris! Captured the look of the K class perfectly to my eyes. Rather looking forward to getting my hands on mine now

Thanks David, that’s much appreciated

Very glad to hear that the boy is on the mend James - sending best wishes to all of you and hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Apologies south_tyne, I've only just noticed your message, I think standard quarry open would probably be an RCH 1923 design, or a Gloucester 5 plank for an older design that could have been cast-offs from one of the earlier Sudrian companies.

I think there is definitely potential for more traffic variety with Elsbridge. Anopha would be basically just quarry traffic. Whereas Elsbridge has the potential for passenger, freight, traffic to and from St Pedrocs Dairy, plus the occasional wagon from the mines at Toryreck too.

Thanks Corbs, I’d love to build both layouts, but lack of space means it’s one or the other. I love the tram shed type roof as well, and I think it’s probably likely that out of the two, Elsbridge is the more likely to appear as it’s the one I really want to build. Just every so often I get an urge to model the inner workings of Anopha quarry!

Thanks David, much appreciated

Always happy to share Nearholmer! :-)

Yes I think the chauldron waggons would be ideal for the lead mines at Toryreck - I've got a 7mm scale one which I must finish off at some point as I'd had the same idea as you. Sigrid is really looking good now - coming together very nicely

NWR No.407 'Sigrid' is looking great Corbs! The TK&F stock looks very good too - nice brakevan (Smallbrook LSWR Road van?) - quite suitable for the TK&F I reckon. I really do like those 2-6-0T's - rather nice and different.

Very glad to see that you've managed to sort out the chassis problems Ruston. I quite like the shade of green used for the chassis and wheels - what make is it please?

Beer traps are all very well and good providing you don't have a Labradoodle that will drink the contents if left unsupervised - thankfully its before the slugs have fallen in...this is the dog that also helps himself to cherries directly off the tree in the garden - enough said! Must admit we've seen a lot less slugs and snails this year thankfully, though I will admit that I've not grown much in the garden this year of the sort that is usually swiftly devoured by them.

Looking good so far Corbs! I think definitely better as a 2-6-2T, but that's personal preference - at the moment it looks very rear heavy! I'd still lower the bunker height - or would it be easier to add an extra mm or two to the cab height? You mentioned the need to build a new rear spectacle plate anyway. I also then wonder if the chimney would benefit looks wise by adding an mm or two in height to that as well? Looks ideal for Norramby-Barrow services though